Installation permitting of electrically actuating apparatus at a distance from a central station.



E. SCHNEIDER. INSTALLATION PERMITTING 0F ELECTRTCALLY ACTUATINGAPPARATUS AT A DISTANCE FROM A CENTRAL STATION.

APPLICATION HLED MAR-23. 1911.

Patented June 1, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. SCHNEIDER.

INSTALLATION PERMITTING 0F ELECTRICALLY ACTUATIANG APPARATUS AT ADISTANCE FROM A CENTRAL STATION.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. I911.

Patented June 1, 1915.

4- SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. SCHNEIDER. INSTALLATION PERMITTING or ELECTRICALLY ACTUATINGAPPARATUS AT -A DISTANCE FROM A CENTRAL STATION.

APPLICATION mu) MAR. 23, 1911.

Patented June 1, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A 1% Ha 1.111

EQSCHNEIDER. INSTALLATION PERMITTING 0F ELECTRICALLY ACTUATING APPARATUSAT A DISTANCE FROM A CENTRAL STATION.

APPLICATION FILED 111.111.23.1911.

Patented June 1, 1915,

SHEETS-SHEET 4.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER, OF LE CREUZOT, FRANCE.

INSTALLATION PERMITTING 0F ELECTRICALLY ACTUATING APPARATUS AT ADISTANCE FROM A CENTRAL STATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June; I?

Application filed March 23, 1911. Serialflo. 616,457.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE SCHNEIDER,

citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Le Creuzot,

from a Central Station, of which the following is a specification.

Installations permitting of electrically actuating an assemblage ofparts or apparatus at a distance from a central station such as the backsights of guns or movable indexes indicating to the-various marksman thedisplacement that they should give .to their back sight, are known. Ininstallations of this kind (see Lohays British Patent No. 14,431 of the7th July, 1908) the operating electric'motors arranged in the severalreceiving stations have been combined with other motors controlled bythe former for example by the intermediary of an electromechanicalescapement; these controlled motors operating an apparatus such as ahand moving in front of a dial and which controls the exact transmissionof the order given. Now it may happen that for some reason, mounting orresumption of operations at a receiving station temporarily isolated,there is an absence of agreement in position between the operated partand the controlling part in ,such a manner that the indications at thereceiving stationsand at the trans missionrstation no longer agree.

The present, invention has for its object a device interposed in theinstallationsofthe type indicated for enabling the operator at thetransmission station to determine at any time whether the desiredagreement exists and to reestablish it if it should be'interrupted.

The invention consists broadly in establishing between the controlledpart at the receiving station and the repeating member at thetransmitting station a circuit which can be broken or made at willby'means of a suitable controller. \Vhen this circuit has beenestablished'it is broken automatically when th operated .part reaches agiven position of agreement or of verification owing to a break formedat this point in the conductor. The operator at the transmitting stationthus recognizes whether agreement exists or not bringing the such as adefect in for the control at; a

repeating apparatus into the position for roducing agreement andascertaining whether at this moment the auxiliary circuitis broken atthe receiving station as ,it should be. If, on the other hand, theoperated part is not asit should be in agreement with the repeatingpart, the auxiliar circuit is not broken and the-operated part continuesto be operateduntil the moment at which it reaches the position 'ofagree ment; at this moment the auxiliarycircuit is broken which isindicated to the operator at the transmittin'gstation by an acoustic,visual .or other signal, and the parts are brought into agreement. i

Figures 1 and 1 of drawing represent diagrammatically by way of examplean installation comprising the: accompanying the device for bringingtheparts into agreement which forms the object of the invention. Fig. 2is an elevation partly in section on, the line A-A in Fig. 1'. Fig. 3 isa partial detail plan of the 'electro-mechanica'l escapement combinedwith the motors V and which insures the progressive and'funiformoperation of the controlled parts.

Fig. 4 is 'aside view, partly in section, of a primary controller. Figs.5 and Garelplanviews of the same controller showing the switch member indifferent switching'pos'i-' tions. Fig. 7 is a side view of thecontroller, partly in section, showing the switch member in closedposition. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a secondary controller; and Figs. ,9and 10 are side views of the same, partly in section, showing differentpositions ofthe arts.

The installation comprises in "theknown manner a transmitting stationwhere a con troller A is installed; a special construetional form ofthis controller is represented in detail in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive. Bymeans of a conductor 1 this controller isconnectedwith one of theterminals 5' (if-:18 main switch. the switch members a of which arepivoted at terminals 2'', 2' and are arranged to connect with the bags f{connectedwith the source of current. .The other terminal i of thisswitch is connected by a conductor 2 to the windings g .of theelectrosmagnets' of a double switch g, y? Each' of'these switches isconnec ted by. the Wires 3, 4'with the terminals? j of the'motor' 7'serving distanceof the shaft is at the receiving station; of theswitches g is intended for placing the motor j in circuit for running inone direction and the other switch for running in the oppositedirection. By means of branch lines 5, 5 and 6 from the conductors 3, 4cthe terminals of the motor 7' are connected with the terminals 0 0 of amotor 0 actuating a shaft p at the transmitting station in such a mannerthat the movements electrically transmitted to the shaft is are repeatedat the transmitting station for example by a hand 1 moving in front of adial 1' and receiving the movements of the shaft p through a screw p andworm wheel p The uniform and progressive running of the motor 7' isinsured by an electro-mechanical escapement. This escapement isconstituted, for example, by a disk 8 integral with the driven member;in the present instance the worm wheel 12 meshes with a screw u mountedon the shaft is and said disk 8 is provided on its periphery with asinuous groove 8, in which there engages a finger 1) pivoted to a frameand forming the armature of an electro-magnet w. The terminals w w ofthis electro-magnet are con nected by the conductors 7, 8 respectivelywith the main conductor 2 and with a contact b of the controller a. Asimilar electromechanical escapement regulates the movementsof the motor0. It comprises a disk a; with sinuous groove 00 in which there moves afinger y forming the armature of an electromagnet 2.

In order to establish mutual control between the motor 0 and the motor7', the electro-magnet z is energized by impulses transmitted by meansof the movable core of the electro-magnet w. \Vith this object in view,the terminal 2 is, directly connected with terminal 11 through conductor10 and terminal 2 is connected through conductors 9, 7, winding w andconductors 8, 8 with terminal 12. \Vhen the core of winding 10 makescontact with terminals 11, 12, the above circuits are closed at contacts11, 12 and switch contact 6. Current from the mains f, f then energizesthe windings of magnet 2. V

In the example illustrated, the distant control member is assumed to bea hand 13 keyed upon the shaft 1-1 whichcarries the wheel t and theescapcment disk 8 integral with the latter. This hand moves in front ofa graduated dial 15. The part repeating the movements transmitted to thehand 13 is the hand (1 moving in front of the dial 1' as stated above.

The device which forms the object of the invention enables the operatorat the transmitting station at any time to make the positions of thehands 13 and I agree if owing to defective fitting or at the beginningof operations this agreement should be disestablished. Between thecontrolled part, that is to say the hand 13 and the tell-tale hand (1 anauxiliary circuit is provided for this purpose. The hand 13 carries twoconducting brushes 16, 17 movable respectively over two contacts 18, 19forming segments of circles and which may be fixed to the dial 15 by theintermediary of an insulating plate 15. The contact 18 presents a breakat a point I situated, for example, opposite the zero of the graduationof the dial 15 and the two parts 18, 18 of the said contact areconnected by the conductors 20, 21 respectively to the two switches 9 gwhich are themselves connected by the conductors c 6 respectively to thecontacts 0 and c of the controller A. The contact 19 is connected by aconductor 22 to one of the contacts 24- of a second controller B forproducing agreement. This controller, the lever 23 of which is connectedby a conductor 25 to the main wire 1, is represented in detail in Figs.8, 9 and 10. In addition to the contact 24, it comprises a contact 26with which the lever 23 is able to contact simultaneously and which isconnected by a conductor 27 to the contact (1 of the controller A, thiscontact d being itself connected like the contact 6 to the electromagnetw by means of the conductor 8.

The lever 23 of the controller B normally forms a bridge (that is to sayin the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 1*) between the twolengths of conductor 5 and 5 in such a manner that in point of fact itforms a switch for placing the motor 0 in circuit or cutting it out ofcircuit. With this object the two lengths of wire 5 and 5 end at the twocontacts 28 and 29 of the said controller.

The controller A is represented in its normal position or position ofrepose in sectional elevation and in plan respectively in Figs. 4 and 5;Figs. 6 and 7 show in plan and in elevation the same controller in theposition that it occupies for actuation at a distance in one of thedirections of running. The lever a is pivoted by means of a fork arounda pin a carried by a pivot a movable in the insulating bracket (1. Aspring a normally holds the lever in the position shown in Figs. 1 and5.

Bv rotating the lever (1 toward the left hand for example, in such amanner as to bring its contact a in contact with the contact piece 0 theswitch g is operated over the circuit f, i, i, 1, a 0, c, 20, magnet g,2, i 2' and f, and places the motors and 0 in circuit. which may betraced for motor j as follows: f, i, i, 3, switch conductor 3, motor j.conductor 4, switch 4', 2, i and f and for motor 0 over shunt circuit 5,5. The field circuit of motor j is traced over conductors 3', 3*,terminals 11', n field magnet 11., conductor 4 4 switch 9 and conductor4, 2, i and f. Field circuit of motor 0 is traced over shunt circuit 3,5, terminal n field winding n, terminal 11?, conductors 6*, 1", switch 9and conductor 1 back to switch 2'. If the lever a were displaced towardthe right hand in such a manner as to establish contact between thecontact pieces a and e the motors j and 0 would be placed in circuit bythe intermediary of the switch g for running in the opposite direction.

Although placed in circuit the motors j and 0 are normally locked bytheir electromechanical escapements w, a which are adapted to bereleased by the key action of levers a and 23 of controllers A and B. Inorder to operate the escapement of the motor j, it is only necessary todepress the lever a (which has previously been placed upon the contact 0or e) in such a manner as to make contact between the contact pieces a.and b or a and d. The current follows the circuit 7", 2', 2", 1, a, a,6. 8,10, 7, 2, 2' and At each similar contact and subsequent break, theelectro-magnet w actuates the fin ger 4: which passes from one tooth tothe other of the sector 8' occupying in succession the positions r,1.",e (Fig. In Figs. 1 and 1 the sector 8' has been diagrammaticallyindicated by a sinusoidal groove in the side of the disk 8. At eachreturn movement of the core of the magnet to the said core forms abridge between the contacts 11 and 12 and thus places the electro-magnet2 of the escapement of the transmitting station in circuit. therebyenabling the motor 0 to rotate in such a manner as to cause the hand 9to repeat the movements executed by the controlled part 13. This circuitmay be traced as follows: f, i, i, 1, (1', l), 8, contacts 12, 11through core of magnet 10, conductor 10, winding of magnet .2,conductors 9, 7, 2, post 2' switch arm 2' and main f. At any moment andparticularly before transmitting a first order the operator at thetransmitting station can verify if the indications of the hands 13 and qagree and if the contrary is the case he can produce such agreement.'lherei'ore, assuming that the positions of the two hands do notcorrespond, the hand 9 being situated on the division 7 for eX ample,while the hand 13 is opposite the division 12 on the dial 15 theoperator proceeds as follows: Assume main switch 71 is closed and levera of controller A is turned into its left-hand position. Lever a isdepressed seven times, thereby sending seven impulses through magnetescapements 1r and 2 and releasing motors j and 0 seven times to steptheir hands 13 and 9 around to the 5 position on the dial 15 and to the0 position on dial r. The circuits are the same as precious]; traced.\Yhen this is accomplished, lever (L is turned to its central position,as indicated, on controller A,

and lever 23 of controller B is turned into its right-hand position,thereby closing the break between conductors 25 and 22 by bringingcontact 30, Fig. 8, against contact 2-1. The circuit through motor 0 isat this time broken at 28 and 29 in conductors 5, 5. Turning lever 23into the right-hand position serves to create the following circuit: 7",i, 25, Q3, 24, 22, 19, 17, 16, 18 (or 18 according to the actualposition of the hand) and respectively 20 or 21, the switch 9 or g, 2,i, f. The motor j is thus switched in circuit while the motor 0 remainscut out.

In order to check Whether agreement exists. the operator aetuates thecontroller lever 23 to cause it to rock in such a manner as to bring theknob 31 in contact with the contact piece 26 (Fig. 9) at which theconductor 27 ends. Each time the parts 26 and 31 are similarly broughtinto contact, an impulse is transmitted to the electromechanicalescapement w 11 through the following circuit: f, 2'', 25,23, 31, 26,27, d, b, 8, 10 w, w, 7, 2, i f.

The motor j in operating rotates the part 13 causing the brushes 16, 17to slide over the circular contacts 18, 19.

When the part 13 reaches the zero of the scale, that is to say, at theprecise moment at which agreement between the indications isreestablished, the brush 16 is situated at I opposite the break between18 and 18. The circuit, including the contacts 18 and 18' and 19 andmagnets g, is broken and thereby deenergizes the latter and permitsswitch g or g to open and break the motor circuit above traced,including motor j. The two hands 9 and 13 are now at zero.

It has been assumed that disagreement existed between the positions ofthe hands. The existence of such disagreement is readily revealed to theoperator at the transmitting station. As the arrival of the hand (I atzero should normally coincide with the arrival of the hand 13 at zero,it is only necessary to bring the hand 9 to zero and to ascertainwhether the operation of the controller lever .33 places the motor j incircuit,- which is equivalent to saying that the brush 16 is upon aconducting part of the circular contact 18-48. In this case, the motor jbeing driven. the escapement z-y acts owing to the impulses transmittedby the electro-magnet a and the noise of the oscillations of thisescapement reveals the displacement of the hand 13. The cessation ofthis noise corresponds to the arrival of the hand 13 at zero, that is tosay, the establishment of agreement.

It will of course be understood that the running of the motor j duringthe stoppage of the motor. 0 resulting from defective agreement might berevealed if desired by an auxiliary signal such as a hell or a telltalelamp branched from the wire 9. For

this purpose, a two point switch 9 is pro- .vided in line 9, to theterminals of which is connected a lamp 9 which may be switched in or outas desired for signal purposes.

In the example described, it has been assumed that the part operated wasmerely an indicating hand. As indicated in the preamble, however, theshaft M might of course serve as a direct or indirect transmission shaftfor driving a mechanism of any kind, such as the back'sight of a gun, aliquid distributer, a regulating member and so forth.

IVhat is claimed is 1. In a system of the character described, thecombination of an indicator at a transmitting station and anotherindicator at a receiving station, a motor associated with each foroperating said indicators, electric circuits for said motors, anothercircuit for controlling the receiving station motor circuitindependently of the transmitting station motor and having terminalscontrolled by a movable contact adapted to open the controlling circuitand stop the last-named motor at a predetermined position of saidcontact.

2. In a system of the character described, the combination of anindicator and a driven-member, a motor associated with each, aninterrupted conductor associated with said driven-member, a contactmovable with said driven-member engaging said interrupted conductor andbreaking the circuit of said driven-member motor when it reaches theinterrupted part of said c0nductor, means connecting said motors incircuit with a source of current, and means for cutting out of circuitthe motor associated with said indicator.

3. In a system of the character described, the combination of anindicator and a driven member, a motor associated withieach, a contactmovable with said driven member, an interrupted conductor engaged bysaid contact, means connecting said motors in circuit with a source ofcurrent, means for cutting out of circuit the motor associated with saidindicator, and means automatically breaking the circuit through themotor associated with said driven member when said contact reaches theinterrupted part of said conductor.

In a system of the character described, the combination of an indicatorand a driven member each provided with a driving motor and each havingan escapement means for simultaneously operating said escapements, meansfor disconnecting said indicator motor, and other means for stoppingsaid driven-member motor.

In a system of the character described, the combination of an indicatorand a driven member, each provided with a driving motor and each havingan electromagnetic escapethe combination of an indicator and a drivenmember, each pro ided with an electric driving motor and each having anescapenient,

means for simultaneously operating said escapements, electric circuitsfor said motors, a manually operated switch for controlling theindicator motor circuit and a cut-out switch operating to open thecircuit of the motor in the other circuit at a predetermined position ofsaid driven member.

7. In a system of the character described, the combination of anindicator and a driven member, an electric motor and an electromagneticescapement associated with each, and means operated by the driven memberescapement and closing a circuit through the indicator escapement eachtime the former is actuated.

8. In a system of the character described, the combination of anindicator and a driven member, each provided with an electric drivingmotor and each having an escapement, means for simultaneously operatingsaid escapements, electric circuits for said motors, a manually operatedswitch for controlling the indicator motor circuit, a cut-out switchoperating to open the circuit of the motor in the other circuit at apredetermined position of said driven member, and a signaling device atthe transmitting station in one of said circuits for the purposedescribed.

9. In a system of the character described, the combination of anindicator at the transmitting station and an indicator at the receivingstation, a motor associated with each indicator, means connecting saidmotors with the source of current, an electromagnetic escapementassociated with each indicator, means connecting the same with thesource of current, and means closing the cir cuit through the escapementat the transmitting station through the operation of the escapement atthe receiving station.

10. In a system of the character described, the combination of anindicator at the transmitting station and an indicator at the receivingstation, a motor associated with each indicator, means connecting saidmotors with the source of current, an electromagnetic escapementassociated with each indicator, means connecting the same with thesource of current, and means for synchronizing the operation of saidescapements.

11. In a system of the character described, the combination of anindicator at the transmitting station and an indicator at the receivingstation, a motor associated with each indicator, means connecting saidmotors with the source of current, an electromagnetic escapementassociated with each indicator, means connecting the same with thesource of current, and means associated with the escapement at thereceiving station for synchronizing the operation of said escapements.

12. In a system of the character described, the combination of anindicator at the transmitting station and a driven member at thereceiving station, a motor associated With each, an electromagneticescapement associated with each, and a controller operable to close thecircuits through said motors and escapements and the source of current.

13. In a system of the character described, the combination of a motordriven indicator at one station provided with an electromagneticescapement, a motor driven member at another station provided with anelectromagnetic escapement, operating circuits for said motors and otheroperating circuits for said escapements, a controller operable to openand close the motor circuits and said escapement circuits and reversingswitches in said motor circuits to determine the direction of rotationof said motors.

14. In a system of the character described, an indicator at thetransmitting station com prising a dial and a pointer and a similarindicator at the receiving station, an electric motor and anelectromagnetic escapement associated with each indicator, electric circuits for said devices, a switch for cutting in and out the transmissionstation motor and an electromagnetic switch controlling both motorcircuits and a circuit having a winding in said last-named switch andcontrolled by the ieceiving station indicator and means at the receivingstation for opening and closing the transmitting station escapementcircuit.

15. In a system of the character described, an indicator at thetransmitting station comprising a dial and a pointer and a similarindicator at the receiving station, an electric motor and anelectromagnetic escapement associated with each indicator, electriccircuits for said devices, another circuit havmg contacts controlled bythe receiving station indicator, a switch for cutting in and out thetransmission station motor and having contacts in said last-namedcircuit and other contacts in one of said escapement circuits, and meanscontrolled by said indicator circuit for connecting and disconnectingsaid motor circuits with a source of current.

16. In a system of the character described, the combination of anindicator comprising a dial and a pointer at the transmitting station,an electric motor for moving one of said elements relatively to theother, a driven member at the receiving station, an electric motorconnected to said member, an electromagnetic escapement associated withsaid driven member, a similar escapement associated with said indicator,means connecting said motors and escapements with a source of current,and means for synchronizing the operation of said escapements.

17. In a system of the character described, the combination of anindicator comprising a dial and a pointer at the transmitting station,an electric motor for moving one of said elements relatively to theother, a driven member at the receiving station, an electric motorconnected to said member, an electromagnetic escapement associated withsaid driven member, a similar escapement associated With said indicator,a circuit adapted to be made and broken through the operation of saiddriven member, and means connecting said motor at the receiving stationto the source of current by means of said circuit, said means alsoconnecting the escapement at the receiving station with the source ofcurrent.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER.

WVitnesses:

BARTLEY F. You, R. DE SERCLINGER.

